Sunday, November 7, 2010

Pavlovian dog "Only One" reacts violently to a peaceable armed citizen just as he has been conditioned to do.



For Immediate Release:

Minneapolis Police Spokesman Under Criminal Investigation

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (November 05, 2010) - Sergeant William Palmer, the Minneapolis Police Department Spokesman, is under investigation for assaulting Joel Rosenberg, a local self-defense activist, in the waiting room of the office of Timothy Dolan, Minneapolis Police Chief. this afternoon, at approximately 130PM.

Rosenberg and his wife, Felicia Herman, had arrived at the office by previous arrangement with the suspect, Palmer, to examine the first of several Minnesota Government Data Practices Act responses that Rosenberg has submitted to the MPD and the City of Minneapolis. In addition to his responsibilities as police spokesman, Palmer is also the MPD's Data Practices Officer.

When Rosenberg removed his jacket, revealing one of the two lawfully-carried handguns on his person, Palmer leaped at him, laid hands on him without lawful authority or Rosenberg's consent, and removed one of Rosenberg's pistols, "sweeping," or momentarily pointing it, at Rosenberg as he moved to unload it.

"Palmer did not commit a further assault by patting me down," Rosenberg said. "If he did, he probably would have found the snubnose revolver in my right pocket, and threatened me with that, too." Rosenberg smiled. "He took one of my knives, too, but missed two others."

Palmer admitted, in front of Rosenberg, two witnesses, and a video camera, that he had done so out of a belief that it was somehow unlawful for Rosenberg, a permit holder, firearms instructor and the author of Everything You Need to Know About (Legally) Carrying a Handgun in Minnesota, to carry in Minneapolis City Hall, and threatened Rosenberg with the loss of his carry permit -- something that Palmer has neither the authority to threaten nor to do -- and with arrest.

Rosenberg responded, "I will not resist arrest, sir," and attempted to advise Palmer that Minnesota Statute 624.714 not only permits Rosenberg to carry his firearm there, but that Subd. 23 of that statute says (emphasis added):

No sheriff, police chief, governmental unit, government official, government employee, or other person or body acting under color of law or governmental authority may change, modify, or supplement these criteria or procedures, or limit the exercise of a permit to carry.

"It's really very simple," Rosenberg explained. "Bill had no right to touch me at all, much less grab my gun, much less point it at me, even momentarily. I expect that the HennCo Sheriff's Office will investigate, and act according to both the facts and the law."

"And that's not the only crime Bill committed today, in that act. He really needs to obey the law that he is sworn to enforce and uphold. Whatever that was today, it was not 'To Protect' nor 'To Serve.' It's not for him to make up the law as he goes along."

Rosenberg immediately proceeded to the office of the Hennepin County Sheriff, where he filed a criminal complaint with Detective Bill Gottwaldt, who has promised Rosenberg a fair and impartial investigation.

"I'd expect nothing less, and nothing more, from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Department," Rosenberg said.

"As the public documents on the MPD that I've received show, though, as well as today's incident, I have to expect a lot less from the MPD."

Contact: Joel Rosenberg
joelr@twincitiescarry.com
(612) 293-5635

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

link?

Bad Cyborg said...

"Detective Bill Gottwaldt ... has promised Rosenberg a fair and impartial investigation."

Perhaps my native paranoia and cynicism is actin here, but I am DECIDEDLY skeptical that one "the Only One" is at all likely to conduct anything that a reasonable would consider a "fair and impartial investigation" of another. IMHO it is vastly more likely that the "The Only Ones" good-old-boy network will close ranks and this will quietly disappear.

Recently the spokesmodel (excuse me spokesperson) for San Antonio PD was cought going the wrong way on a freeway on/off ramp and blowing half dead. It made the newspaper and local TV news but nothing ever came of it. BUT! Maybe they do things better in Hennepin County, Minnesota than in Bexar County, Texas.

Then again ...

Bad Cyborg X

Fat Baldy Git said...

Interesting aside on Ivan Pavlov the perhaps not so human, human being.

It looks suspiciously like some of his researches were to develop torture and "re-education" or re programming for his masters in the politburo and, let's just say, more shady elements in the coercive services.

FatnBaldy said...

Damn, forgot to add the link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Pavlov

Anonymous said...

Mpd steps on their dick Again. Joel is a really good guy that holds their feet to the fire. one would think after mpd arested a black man for carrying hollow points that they would figue out that they too must follow the law

mostlylawabidingcitizen

EJR914 said...

Link, please. :-)

Anonymous said...

I'm not making any promises on behalf of Bill Gottwaldt, but he is a detective in Rich Stanek's HCSO,and Rich runs a very professional cop shop. He would have started his investigation on Friday, but he and several others were deeply involved in another matter, about which I know little more than it was far more urgent and important that Palmer's silly little stunt.

We'll see, though. I'm not worried, and don't expect to be disappointed.

Defender said...

I admire people who are willing to test the limits of their rights and fight for them within the system. Myself, I hate confrontation so much that had I been rushed and disarmed this way... well, carrying a second gun is for just such occasions.

More Only Ones behaving badly. Warrantless armed raids and searches of barber shops. Several barbers with expired licenses were found!:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/crime/os-illegal-barbering-arrests-20101107,0,2783682.story

Joel Rosenberg said...

Oh -- and the video's up on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LpuUlYMXaU&feature=autofb

AlanR - GunRightsAlert.com said...

Link to the press release.

Pat H. said...

I hope you are able to get justice, Joel.

The video of theMPD Attack on Joel Rosenberg.